AN ORDINANCE concerning protecting conservation lands in King County; adopting financial policies to accelerate the protection of vital open spaces, including urban green spaces, natural areas, wildlife and salmon habitat, trails, river corridors, farmlands and forests in King County; to address equity and social justice issues by increasing the availability of open spaces in historically under-served areas; and to address generational equity by spreading costs of protecting vital open spaces over time; amending Ordinance 8867, Section 1 and K.C.C. 26.12.010, Ordinance 13717, Section 1 and K.C.C. 26.12.003, as amended, and Ordinance 13717, Section 4 and K.C.C. 26.12.025 and adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 26.12.

DrafterClerk 05/25/2018TitleAN ORDINANCE concerning protecting conservation lands in King County; adopting financial policies to accelerate the protection of vital open spaces, including urban green spaces, natural areas, wildlife and salmon habitat, trails, river corridors, farmlands and forests in King County; to address equity and social justice issues by increasing the availability of open spaces in historically under-served areas; and to address generational equity by spreading costs of protecting vital open spaces over time; amending Ordinance 8867, Section 1 and K.C.C. 26.12.010, Ordinance 13717, Section 1 and K.C.C. 26.12.003, as amended, and Ordinance 13717, Section 4 and K.C.C. 26.12.025 and adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 26.12.BodySTATEMENT OF FACTS:1. Motion 14458 sets forth King County's policy to remain one of the greenest metropolitan areas in the world by protecting and conserving land and water resources that will enhance our quality of life, strengthen our region's economy, enhance biodiversity, provide recreational opportunities and promote sustainable forestry and farming and locally grown food.2. Motion 14458 requested that the executive develop and transmit to the council a work plan for implementing a preservation and conservation program to identify, protect and conserve water and land resources, including farmland and forest lands, ecological lands, river and stream corridors, trail corridors and historic resources on farmlands. The motion provided that the work plan should be developed through a collaborative regional effort that engaged stakeholders, cities, tribes, nonprofit groups and the public and that included information about the percentage of land within the county that is currently designated to be within each of the following: agricultural production districts; forest production districts; and the farmland preservation program.3. In March 2016, the executive transmitted the Land Conservation and Preserv...